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Suite for violin and orchestra, Op 5

Introduction

Hubay’s Suite for violin and orchestra Op 5—composed in 1877–8, revised in 1881 and dedicated to Carolus Agghazi—is typical of Romantic suites in alluding to the dance origins of the Baroque suite while essentially being a free collection of genre pieces. This is one of Hubay’s early works, originally written for violin and piano before being revised with orchestral accompaniment, and it maintains a traditional four-movement form.

The ‘Gavotte’ preserves the character of the Baroque dance. After a short orchestral introduction the first theme is presented by the soloist, while the second theme consists of a contrasting two-part melody. After the repetition of the first theme, the soloist plays a fast variation on the second theme, which is also heard on the woodwinds. A return of the first theme completes the movement.

The ‘Idylle’, a pastoral siciliano-like movement, was also published and performed as an independent piece. In a straightforward A–B–A structure, the movement opens with an orchestral introduction before the soloist plays the main melody. The minor-key middle section is slightly faster and dynamically developed. The coda ends on the high harmonics of the solo violin.

The third movement, ‘Intermezzo’, starts with triplets in the strings. Over this backdrop the violin presents a marching tune. A more mellow, melodic section in the minor key leads to the marching first theme played by the horns. The soloist develops demanding technical variations on this theme before the slower melodic section appears in a different tonality, ending in high trills on the violin. The movement ends with a restatement of the opening theme.

The closing ‘Finale’ recalls the ‘Gavotte’ in its introduction, as if completing the circle. The tempo then changes to Allegro vivace and the soloist launches on a technically demanding run of triplets with a simple accompaniment in the strings. The middle section presents a second theme, characterized by quaver triplets first played by the orchestra. This theme is developed in different keys and leads to a short cadenza. As with the other movements in this suite, a recapitulation of the first theme concludes the movement.

Recordings

'Hagai Shaham is something very special indeed with a sound that reminds me of Heifetz at his most silkily seductive. Both of these blazingly romantic ...'Hagai Shaham does wonders for these neglected scores, playing with beguiling purity throughout the range, and a heart-felt intensity that makes the m ...» More